Posted on 08/29/2007 12:26:43 AM PDT by raccoonradio
WTKK (96.9 FM) made rival radio host and Herald columnist Howie Carr an offer he couldn’t refuse - a five-year deal that could earn him a whopping $7 million and make him one of the highest-paid local talk jocks in the nation, the Herald has learned.
As WTKK’s new morning-drive man, Carr would earn a base salary of $450,000 the first year; $500,000 the second year; $550,000 the third year; $600,000 the fourth year; and $650,000 the fifth year, according to WTKK’s offer of employment.
But the real money kicks in if Carr hits his performance bonuses.
At the Greater Media-owned WTKK, Carr could get a $200,000 ratings bonus four times a year - one for each ratings period - should his show grab the No. 1 spot among 25 to 54-year-old listeners, the key demographic eyed by advertisers.
Second place would earn Carr $150,000; third place $100,000; fourth place $80,000; fifth place $70,000; sixth place $60,000; seventh place $50,000; and eighth place $30,000.
Carr gets a $25,000 “premium” if he earns a bonus during the spring or fall - the two most important ratings periods.
If Carr ranks No. 1 during every ratings book, he could earn as much as $7 million over five years. The only other Boston radio host who comes close is WTKK’s Jay Severin, who inked a deal that could also reach $7 million, but over a seven-year period.
“The agreement is what it is, but the bottom line is that the agreement is heavily laden with incentives,” said Carr’s attorney, Bret Cohen of Mintz Levin. “If the radio station does well, Howie Carr will do well.”
Carr, who is embroiled in a legal battle to bolt the Entercom Communications-owned WRKO (680 AM) where he now hosts an afternoon-drive show, also gets a $50,000 signing bonus if he starts at WTKK by Oct. 1, according to the station’s July 9 offer.
His contract with WRKO is up Sept. 19. Last year, Carr reportedly earned $790,000 at WRKO.
WRKO has offered to match the financial terms of WTKK’s offer.
During the spring ratings book, Carr’s show on WRKO was fifth in afternoon drive with a 4.4 share among 25- to 54-year-olds, beating Severin, who was sixth with a 4.1 share. In morning-drive, Carr would go up against KISS 108 FM’s Matt Siegel, WRKO’s Tom Finneran and presumably, John Dennis and Gerry Callahan on WEEI (850 AM). Last spring, Siegel was No. 1 in morning drive among 25- to 54-year-olds, with a 7.4 share. Dennis & Callahan were second with a 7.0 share and WBZ (1030 AM) was third with a 6.3.
Finneran was 15th with a 1.9 share and WTKK, which lost Don Imus in April, placed 13th with a 3.2 share.
Howie Carr-related ping
Anyone know how much Rush Limbaugh makes in a year?
Not sure but I think I heard Hannity (second most popular
host) had signed a 5 yr deal at $5 million per yr. Rush
no doubt must make $10-15 mil., maybe even more.
about 30.
Try 30-35 million a year...............
What does Al Franken make a year on Air America....Oppps sorry Al.
I’m gonna miss Howie in the afternoons. He belongs there. I’m not gonna be able to catch him that much in the mornings.
I can’t imagine that Entercom will let Carr go up against both Tom Finneran (on ‘RKO) and Dennis and Callahan (on WEEI) in morning drive without a fight. That just doesn’t seem to be their style.
I would not doubt it. Yes, maybe my estimate was a bit low!
I think Al was making $2 million a yr; problem was,
the checks were bouncing.
hopefully WTKK will find a way to shift Severin elsewhere
and put Howie on in afternoon. Severin still has several
years left on his contract and maybe his deal stipulated
the 3-7 slot...who knows.
btw on radio-info.com board, a post by someone not too
enchanted with Howie (Casablanca, a former WRKO producer
who apparently feels that Jerry W got shafted by Howie)
mentions a piece in Boston magazine by Emily “Thanks Dad”
Rooney which I’m guessing is not too complimentary toward
HC (why else would he mention it?). Haven’t read yet, so
wouldn’t know.
While I’m being an optimist about this situation (even
though a morning slot would mean I’d have to record his
show on my comp. every morning and play it back later on
mp3—due to my sleeping hours), I also realize that due
to legal crap it’s possible he may go off on Sept 19
(or earlier) and be off for a long while. I’ll let people know about the situation as time goes on...just as I did last night in the middle of the night when this
Herald article (by a woman who has been nicknamed
“Howie’s secretary”) got posted.
With oodles and OODLES of tar-tar sauce.
Info is per Forbes Magazine and the publicity that surrounded his 10year/300mil contract with Clear Channel.
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